What Is The Bible's Primary Message? - Jun 29

The 'Love Your Neighbor' Command Isn't It

When asked by the Pharisees what the ultimate commandment was (in order to trick Him), Jesus replied:

'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. The second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.
(Matthew 22:37-40)

While certainly one of the most well known and important of Jesus' teachings, the 'love your neighbor' command is not His central teaching. Whether they be benign or malicious, most people simply miss the plain message of Jesus' ministry.

Is The Bible's Primary Message One Of Salvation?

NO! Atonement through the blood of Christ alone is the secondary message of the Bible. Hear me out: God isn't merely saving us from something (our condemnation), He's saving us for something. What is that 'something' that I'm referring to?

The Coming Kingdom of God (The Prophecy of the Sabbath)

From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."
(Matthew 4:17)

THAT is the primary message of the Bible. Jesus came to preach the coming of His millenial reign right here on Earth. That is what the sabbath is all about. It is the establishment of His throne on the Temple Mount in the city of God (Jerusalem) amongst the people of God (the Jews). Both the Pharisees and the Romans were terrified of Jesus. It was precisely this message of 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near' that got Jesus in trouble with the authorities, not the 'Love your neighbor' bit. His resulting sacrifice upon the cross was always meant to be a (crucial) stepping stone for those that wish to serve Him in His millenial reign.

Bible Prophecy and the Importance of Israel

I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that sends all the surrounding peoples reeling. Judah will be besieged as well as Jerusalem. On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations. All who try to move it will injure themselves.
(Zechariah 12:2-3)

Another question to ponder: Why such hatred and animosity towards Israel and the Jews? God has a plan to bring the coming kingdom and Satan has a plan to derail it. If Satan can achieve his dream of a Jew-free ME, then God's plan has failed. If God plan succeeds (and it will), then Satan is defeated. All of this is contigent on the survival of the Jewish state of Israel. Satan's murderous plans is to eliminate the Jews from the Promised Land that God originally bequethed to Abraham. Right now it is Islam that is the main conduit of Jew-hatred. Not only will Islam meet it's appointed end, all those who oppose God's plan of redemption will go to their destruction as well.

Salvation is a Means to a Greater End: Eternal Employment and Service to the King of Kings

I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.
(Revelation 20:4a,6)

Some of you lucky sods out there have a really great job. Some like myself have a decent job that pays the bills but doesn't really rock our world. Others have jobs that they absolutely hate. Now imagine having the the greatest job on Earth. It could be travelling. It could involve artistic creativity. It could be engineering the coolest structures that the mind could conceive. In other words, it would be anything than what you're doing right now. GOD HAS A NEW JOB PERSONALLY RESERVED FOR YOU IN WAITING. It's yours and no-one else's. The unemployment rate in the kingdom of God will be zero. The job and the title that you will receive due to your loyal service to Him will exceed expectations far beyond what your puny mind can imagine. All believers will reign with Christ and be given authority to judge. How exciting! Rejoice, our redemption draws near!

Johnny Cash